Research

We have a comprehensive research program that involves laboratory investigation with a strong theme of developing new treatments for lung cancer and understanding the processes causing and controlling the disease.

We also have a track record of delivering high quality clinical research projects involving the early diagnosis and staging of patients with lung cancer, the main themes are summarised below along with examples of current projects.

Developing new treatments for lung cancer

Airway regeneration

Photodynamic therapy and the PEARL trial

Replacing diseased airway and REGENVOX2 trial

Research Groups

Airway Regeneration and Carcinogenesis Group - Prof Sam Janes

We are interested in understanding how the stem cells of the airway maintain our epithelial layer and importantly what happens when things go wrong. In particular we study the mechanisms controlling cell fate decisions and define whether it is failure of control of these cells that causes early lung cancer lesions.

This work fits our clinical interest in monitoring a large cohort of patients with pre-invasive lung cancer lesions.

Our group also investigates the potential of using bone marrow stem cells to deliver anti-cancer therapies. This work is funded by Wellcome and is building towards a clinical trial.

Finally we have a group working on airway regeneration, again understanding the key mechanisms of airway epithelial proliferation and differentiation with and endpoint of supplying the epithelial lining of clinical tracheal and laryngeal grafts.

Unfortunately, treatment options for lung
disease remain limited and survival rates for lung cancer in particular
have not improved for over 60 years.

The goal of Adam Giangreco's
research is to increase our understanding of the fundamental mechanisms
driving lung cancer and lung regeneration. We hope to exploit this
knowledge in order to develop more effective treatments for repairing
irreversibly damaged lungs.